Study Guide 1.

1 Definition of Curriculum EDCS 301

Instruction: Authors define curriculum differently. In this activity you will compare the different
definitions of curriculum by renown curricularists. Find below 11 definitions.

DEFINITIONS OF CURRICULUM

D1. The Curriculum should consist of permanent studies – the rules of grammar, reading,
1rhetoric and logic, mathematics and, at the secondary level, the greatest books of the Western

world. (Robert Hutchins)

D2. The Curriculum must consist essentially of disciplined study in five areas: command of the
mother tongue and systematic study of grammar, literature, and writing; mathematics; the
sciences; history; and foreign language. (Arthur Bestor)

D3. The Curriculum should consist entirely of knowledge that comes from the disciplines. (Philip
Phenix)

D4. A Curriculum is a written document. (George Beauchamp)

D5. The Curriculum is a planned program of learning opportunities to achieve broad educational
goals and related objectives. (William Alexander)

D6. The Curriculum is all of the learning of students that is planned by and directed by the
school to attain its educational goals. (Ralph Tyler)

D7. The Curriculum is a (set of) planned and guided learning experiences for the learners’
continuous and willful growth... (Daniel and Laura Tanner)

8. A Curriculum is a plan for learning. (Hilda Taba)

D9. A Curriculum is a plan for what is to be taught and to whom, when and how. (John McNeil).

D10. The Curriculum is planned actions for instruction. (James Macdonald)

D11. The Curriculum of a school can be conceived of as a series of planned events that are
intended to have educational consequences for one or more students. (Elliot Eisner)

1 Wiles, Jon. (1999). Curriculum Essentials: A Resource for Educators. Needham Hgts, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

 Study Guide 1.1 Definition of Curriculum EDCS 301

Criteria D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11

Is it a plan?
A. YES
B. NO
C. I DON’T
KNOW
What is the
purpose of the
plan?

A. TO
GUIDE
LEARNI
NG
B. TO
EDUCAT
E
C. TO
ACHIEV
E
GOALS
What are the
elements of the
plan?
A. LEARNI
NG
EXPERI
ENCES
B. KNOWL
EDGE
FROM
DISCIPL
INES
C. INSTRU
CTION
D. PLANNE
D
EVENTS
E. INTENT,
CONTE
NT,
APPRO
ACH &
EVALUA
TION

 Study Guide 1.1 Definition of Curriculum EDCS 301

SUMMARY

How do you compare the different definitions based on the 3 criteria?

a. How many say it is a plan?

b. What are the purposes of the curriculum? (Indicate those that are most common
among the definitions.)

c. What are the elements of the plan? (Indicate those that are most common among
the definitions.)

 Study Guide 1.1 Definition of Curriculum EDCS 301

CONSIDERATIONS IN MAKING CURRICULUM

Fill out the boxes below based on the agreed definition drawn from the
preceding activity. Write down the elements of curriculum based on your
definition (inside the box on the right). Then, reflecting on these elements,
determine the different important considerations which will help determine
these elements. (In other words, what will be the bases for determining
each element?). Write down each consideration inside the box on the left
side.

CONSIDERATION #1 (?)
CURRICULUM
(STATE HERE THE ELEMENTS
CONSIDERATION # 2 (?) OF A CURRICULUM)

CONSIDERATION # 3 (?)

CONSIDERATION # 4 (?)